Welcome to the ApaSan Project

This website makes available the results of the ApaSan project (2008-2019) on water supply, sanitation and strategic planning in Moldova.

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ApaSan- Swiss Water and Sanitation Project Moldova

The rural population`s access to safe water supply and sanitation in Moldova is seriously limited. People in rural areas suffer much worse conditions than their urban counterparts, and within rural areas, it is the poorest and weakest groups that have lowest access to good services. Water and sanitation sector institutions in Moldova face serious challenges in better responding to the needs of the rural population.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) started to support the water sector in Moldova in 2001 with a humanitarian aid intervention. Since 2008, SDC and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) are funding the ApaSan project, which is implemented by Skat Consulting Ltd.

The ApaSan project combines policy influencing, institutional strengthening and support to infrastructure development with the aim to enable Moldovan institutions at all levels to better respond to the needs for water supply and sanitation services of the rural population, including the most vulnerable.

Overview of the different project phases, budgets and key activities

Key Outcomes

National policy has progressed and now recognizes decentralized options as valid solution in its National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy and various secondary legislation, norms and standards.

Water and sanitation services delivery models were tested, improved, consolidated, documented and replicated throughout all regions of Moldova, including Gagauzia and Transnistria.

42 local piped water supply systems deliver safe water 24/24h to 67’000 rural inhabitants and are managed sustainably by Water Consumers Associations (WCA), municipal enterprises, inter-municipal enterprises or regional operators.

Solutions for water production have been expanded from spring catchment to treated water from rivers and deep aquifers.

The Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova CALM set up a service centre to support small local water and sanitation operators in rural areas.

Several small Municipalities agreed on formal delegation of provision of water services to urban utilities (ApaCanal), which is an important step towards regionalisation of water and sanitation services.

The District of Ialoveni has a General Water Supply and Sanitation Plan established along national guidelines. Water and Sanitation sector Ministries agreed on a joint approach to sector planning with the development of a national Water Supply and Sanitation Plan